SOLCUC 2017: It’s Hort time!

The XIV Solanaceae and III Cucurbitaceae Genomics Joint Conference (SOLCUC) will take place in Valencia/ Spain from September 03-06, 2017. This joint event aims to reunite the Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae scientific communities for the first time since 2011.

As part of the local organizing committee, the Valencian TomGEM partner CSIC is delighted to host the event that already attracted about 400 registrations. The Valencia Region is famous for its rich and diverse range of local horticultural varieties, with farmers being the guardians of a large heritage in traditional germplasm for these species.

The hosts have put together an excellent scientific program that will cover recent developments in the genomics research including both basic and applied aspects. Besides playing a crucial role in staging the event, TomGEM partners will chair several sessions, such as “Plant Interaction with other Organisms” (Coordinator Prof. Mondher Bouzayen/ INPT) or “Genetical Genomics/ Molecular Breeding” (Co-chair: Antonio Monforte/ CSIC). On the final day, a technical visit to the Cajamar experimental farm of TomGEM partner FCValenciana is being organized.

Bringing the Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae communities together again for the SOLCUC 2017 will offer new opportunities for scientists from all over the world working in these families to exchange ideas and foster new collaborations. In particular, the cooperation between the three European projects TomGEM, TRADITOM and G2P-SOL is being further intensified as all three project coordinators will be present in Valencia.